Hollow Knight: Silksong’s Approachability Won’t Be For Everyone, But It’s Definitely For Me

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I’ve always been able to handle tough games without much trouble, and I promise you this isn’t me boasting. I’ve earned the platinum trophy for almost every game from FromSoftware’s Soulslike series, I regularly replay Cuphead every two years, and as a child, one of my favorite Game Boy Advance games was the notoriously difficult Star Wars: Flight of the Falcon. So when it comes to Hollow Knight, whose combat is known for being challenging, it didn’t deter me in the least.

Experiencing Hollow Knight was undoubtedly a challenging learning experience, especially when it came to dealing with its variety of insect-like enemies and bosses. Mastering them required understanding their attack patterns, memorizing these, and being aware of the environmental hazards they were surrounded by.

However, Hollow Knight presented me with an aspect of gameplay that I’ve always found difficult, which is something that Hollow Knight: Silksong seems to handle almost entirely differently. Although this change might not be everyone’s preferred choice, I am extremely grateful for it.

The Double-Edged Sword of Hollow Knight Dropping You In At The Deep End

2017’s Hollow Knight plunges gamers straight into the action – the action being a massive chasm in the earth. Stepping foot into Hallownest for the first time, players are faced with a fork in the road: left or right. Either way leads to an expansive multi-tiered labyrinth, teeming with winding passages that branch off in every direction. Each of these pathways leads to yet another set of multilevel caverns, all interconnected by a complex network of further branching paths.

In many instances, these diverging routes lead to obstacles that can only be overcome with particular upgrades. This forces the player to retrace their steps and explore alternate pathways in an attempt to find the right sequence to progress. On the surface, this non-linear design seems liberating, as it’s a common element of Metroidvania games. However, the initial part of Hollow Knight feels like a personal challenge for me because its opening is particularly daunting.

I find Metroidvanias quite appealing, especially after getting past the initial hour. At first, I’m often thrilled by the promise of an expansive open world. However, this excitement can soon turn into apprehension, which might eventually make it hard for me to truly appreciate the game world.

In simpler terms, navigating the vast and intricate labyrinth of the game Hollow Knight often leaves me feeling overwhelmed. It’s challenging to keep track of paths I’ve already traversed, and there’s a persistent fear that I might have missed an important path or area that I visited earlier but can no longer recall. This constant worry makes exploring the game even more daunting.

Many people praise one of Hollow Knight‘s standout aspects – its vast, secret-filled world. And it’s true that players enjoy the initial stages because they offer a lot of freedom. However, I personally find the beginning of the game a bit too confusing for my taste, as there isn’t a map, compass, or journal provided right away, which can make exploring the world feel challenging.

Hollow Knight: Silksong Has a More Linear Opening, And That’s Great News For Me

Initially, just like many others, I was eagerly anticipating the release of Hollow Knight: Silksong. However, a small worry lingered – I feared the initial gameplay might induce some stress for me. Fortunately, it turned out that my concerns were unfounded.

In the early stages of Hollow Knight: Silksong, the gameplay is surprisingly straightforward with a clear path leading to the Bone Bottom hub. Subsequently, players encounter two connected regions named ‘The Marrow’ and ‘Mosshome’. Although these biomes offer several optional paths, I personally never felt overwhelmed by their network of tunnels.

Unlike the original Hollow Knight game from 2017, the starting zones in Hollow Knight: Silksong don’t typically lead to dead ends. Instead, many paths will connect you to a different part of the level, often looping back to where you initially started. Additionally, shortcuts can be uncovered, making it easier for players to revisit previously explored areas and offering rewards based on their understanding of the map layout.

Silksong might not appeal to fans who want an expansive Metroidvania experience from the start. However, for me, the beginning of Hollow Knight: Silksong was a delightful change of pace because it didn’t require me to struggle through the initial stages as I often do with Metroidvanias. Instead, falling in love with the game world became effortless.

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2025-09-05 23:22